A woman has been charged with stealing $225,000 from New Zealand Defence Force social club accounts, then using most of that money for gambling.
The Serious Fraud Office said in a statement on Thursday it had charged 60-year-old Paniparewhakaro Elizabeth Rangiuia with theft by person in a special relationship and false accounting.
She is accused of embezzling the money from social club accounts usually used for the health, wellbeing and retention of army personnel.
The funds were collected by military personnel through fundraising efforts and direct deposits by personnel.
The SFO alleged Rangiuia, who worked for the Defence Force from 1987 until her dismissal in September 2018 used the money for gambling.
She worked as a financial administrator of non-public funds at Waiouru Military Training Facility from 2009.
She will next appear in the Levin District Court in March.
